Vena cava filter with dual retrieval

Abstract

An intravascular filter assembly has an expanded state for capturing thrombi in a patient's blood vessel and a collapsed state for removal from the patient's blood vessel. The filter assembly includes a fixed hub defining a tubular portion, a plurality of struts extending from a first axial side of the tubular portion of the fixed hub, and an axially movable hub. The struts have an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration. The axially movable hub has a first position radially surrounding at least an axial portion of the tubular portion and a second position axially spaced apart from the fixed hub along the struts. The struts are in the collapsed configuration when the movable hub is in the second position. A first coupling member extends from the first axial side from the movable hub; and a second coupling member extends from a second axial side opposite the first axial side.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An intravascular filter assembly having an expanded state for capturing thrombi in a patient's blood vessel and a collapsed state for removal from the patient's blood vessel, the filter assembly comprising:
 a fixed hub defining a tubular portion, the tubular portion having a second axial side comprising a stopper; 
 a plurality of struts extending from a first axial side of the tubular portion of the fixed hub, the struts having an expanded configuration when the filter is in the expanded state and a collapsed configuration when the filter is in the collapsed state; 
 an axially movable hub having a first position radially surrounding at least an axial portion of the tubular portion and a second position axially spaced apart from the fixed hub along the struts, the struts being in the collapsed configuration when the movable hub is in the second position, the stopper disposed outside of the movable hub; 
 a first coupling member extending from a first axial side of the movable hub; and 
 a second coupling member extending from a second axial side of the movable hub opposite the first axial side of the movable hub. 
 
     
     
       2. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper prevents the movable hub from moving past the tubular portion on the second axial side. 
     
     
       3. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper is an annular collar formed on the fixed hub adjacent the tubular portion. 
     
     
       4. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a retainer limiting a distance of travel of the movable hub along the struts. 
     
     
       5. The filter assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the retainer is formed by a jugular hook forming the second coupling member. 
     
     
       6. The filter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the jugular hook has an axial length determining the second position of the movable hub. 
     
     
       7. the filter assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the jugular hook extends axially from a radially outward projection formed on the movable hub. 
     
     
       8. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each of the struts has a first curved portion bending the strut away from a longitudinal axis of the filter and a second curved portion bending the strut toward the longitudinal axis of the filter. 
     
     
       9. The filter assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second position of the movable hub is at least as far away from the fixed hub as the first curved portion of each strut. 
     
     
       10. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the stopper allows the movable hub to move up to only the second axial side of the tubular portion. 
     
     
       11. The filter assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed hub comprises an axial passage formed from the first axial side of the tubular portion to the second axial side of the tubular portion. 
     
     
       12. An intravascular filter assembly having an expanded state for capturing thrombi in a patient's blood vessel and a collapsed state for removal from the patient's blood vessel, the filter assembly comprising:
 a fixed hub defining a tubular portion having a first axial side extending to a second axial side the fixed hub comprises an axial passage formed from the first axial side of the tubular portion to the second axial side of the tubular portion; 
 a plurality of struts extending from the first axial side of the tubular portion of the fixed hub, the struts having an expanded configuration when the filter is in the expanded state and a collapsed configuration when the filter is in the collapsed state; 
 an axially movable hub having a first position radially surrounding at least an axial portion of the tubular portion and a second position axially spaced apart from the fixed hub along the struts, the struts being in the collapsed configuration when the movable hub is in the second position; 
 a first coupling member extending from a first axial side of the movable hub; 
 a second coupling member extending from a second axial side of the movable hub opposite the first axial side of the movable hub; and 
 a stopper disposed outside of the movable hub. 
 
     
     
       13. The filter assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising an elongated push tool with a tip having a diameter greater than the axial passage and smaller than a distance of opposing struts adjacent the fixed hub. 
     
     
       14. A method of removing an intravascular filter assembly from a body vessel, the filter assembly having a fixed hub defining a tubular portion, the tubular portion having a second axial side comprising a stopper; a plurality of struts extending from a first axial side of the tubular portion of the fixed hub, the struts having an expanded configuration when the filter is in an expanded state and a collapsed configuration when the filter is in a collapsed state; an axially movable hub having a first position radially surrounding at least an axial portion of the tubular portion and a second position axially spaced apart from the fixed hub along the struts, the struts being in the collapsed configuration when the movable hub is in the second position, the stopper disposed outside of the movable hub; a first coupling member extending from a first axial side of the movable hub; and a second coupling member extending from a second axial side of the movable hub opposite the first axial side of the movable hub; the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting a recovery sheath with a lumen into the body vessel from the first axial side; 
 placing a recovery tool within the lumen of the recovery sheath and moving it distally toward the filter assembly; 
 engaging the first coupling member with the recovery tool; 
 placing a push tool within the lumen of the recovery sheath and moving it distally toward the filter assembly; 
 abutting and retaining the fixed hub at a fixed location; 
 pulling the movable hub off the tubular portion along the struts until the movable hub is in the second position and the struts are in the collapsed configuration; 
 proximally removing the push tool; 
 causing a relative movement between the filter assembly and the recovery sheath in a direction that causes the filter assembly to enter the lumen of the recovery sheath; and 
 proximally removing the recovery sheath including the filter assembly. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the push tool and the recovery sheath are removed simultaneously. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the filter assembly further includes a retainer limiting a movement of the movable hub along the struts and thereby defining the second position of the movable hub, wherein the movable hub is moved until the retainer limits the movement. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer is a jugular hook limiting the movement by abutting the fixed hub. 
     
     
       18. An intravascular filter assembly having an expanded state for capturing thrombi in a patient's blood vessel and a collapsed state for removal from the patient's blood vessel, the filter assembly comprising:
 a fixed hub defining a tubular portion having a first axial side of the tubular portion and a second axial side of the tubular portion, the fixed hub comprises an axial passage formed from the first axial side of the tubular portion to the second axial side of the tubular portion; 
 a plurality of struts extending from the first axial side of the tubular portion of the fixed hub, the struts having an expanded configuration when the filter is in the expanded state and a collapsed configuration when the filter is in the collapsed state; 
 an axially movable hub having a first position radially surrounding at least an axial portion of the tubular portion and a second position axially spaced apart from the fixed hub along the struts, the struts being in the collapsed configuration when the movable hub is in the second position; 
 a first coupling member extending from a first axial side of the movable hub; 
 a second coupling member extending from a second axial side of the movable hub opposite the first axial side of the movable hub; and 
 a stopper preventing the movable hub from moving past the tubular portion on the second axial side. 
 
     
     
       19. The filter assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising an elongated push tool with a tip having a diameter greater than the axial passage and smaller than a distance of opposing struts adjacent the fixed hub. 
     
     
       20. The filter assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the stopper is an annular collar formed on the fixed hub.